THE MINING BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10265, 17 October 1896, Page 4

THE MINING BILL.

The Mining Bill, one of tlio most important measures introduced this session, by reason of the startling innovations it proposed as originally Drought down, lias been agreed to in au amended form by the Legislature. The con-

ference between the managers of the 1 two Houses was able to arrive at an agreement respecting the amendments made by the Council, aud the measure has now been finally disposed of. Our Wellington correspondent sends . ,us some particulars of the compromise effected, but until we have a copy of the Bill before us, as it has finally emerged from Parliament, it t is not possible to enter into the details of all the changes made. Although some of these remove or mitigate a few of the more objectionable features of the measure as > originally drafted, its essential principle in regard to the prerogative of the Crown in the case of the Royal minerals, and the right of re-entry on private lends situated within a goldtields district that are not being prospected or worked for gold or silver in the particular manner prescribed, remains. The Bill has been carefully watched by British capitalists interested in New Zealand gold raining, and there can be no doubt that its sweeping proposals greatly alarmed them. How they may regard it in its present form remains to be seen. It would be a misfortune for the colony were the Bill to have the effect of alienating outside capital from assisting in the development of our goldtields.